Golf putting device including automatic cycling means and ball return pushers on an edless chain



May 18, 1965 M. F. HEUSER 3,184,239

GOLF PUTTING DEVICE INCLUDING AUTOMATIC CYCLING Filed April 25, 1962MEANS AND BALL RETURN PUSHERS ON AN ENDLESS CHAIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

MARION E HEUSER MMM ATTORNEYS May 18, 1965 M. F. HEUSER GOLF PUTTINGDEVICE INCLUDING AUTOMATIC CYCLING MEANS AND BALL RETURN PUSHERS ON ANENDLESS CHAIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1962 INVENTOR.

MARION E HEUSER y 8, 1965 M. F. HEUSER GOLF PUTTING DEVICE INCLUDINGAUTOMATIC CYCLING MEANS AND BALL RETURN PUSHERS ON AN ENDLESS CHAIN 4SheetsSheet 3 Filed April 25, 1962 a.- Si

MARION F. HEUSER ATTORNEYS M. F. HEUSER May 18, 1965 GOLF PUTTING DEVICEINCLUDING AUTOMATIC CYCLING MEANS AND BALL RETURN PUSHERS ON AN ENDLESSCHAIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 25, 1962 R E ms mm V H E N w R A MATTORNEYS Q2, J 8. n: m1, m2 $7 ms 35 E E E QO U. a W2 I Q2 m: k I QB m:k E K f0: l V L .I I. I V E g 2 ms .2 3 E g i2 31 w 8.

United States Patent 3,184,239 GOLF PUTTING DEVICE INCLUDING AUTO- MATICCYCLING MEANS AND BALL RE- TURN PUSHERS 0N AN ENDLESS (IHAKW Marion F.Heuser, 4601 Hastings Drive, Dayton 40, Ohio Filed Apr. 25, 1962, Ser.No. 1%,128 8 Claims. (Cl. 273176) This invention relates to an indoorgame and particularly to a coin operated automatic golf putting gamewhich closely simulates conditions found on the putting greens oftypical golf courses, and which has as an object of the game thepractice putting of golf balls along a level surface into a hole.

The present practice in games of this type is to provide an unenclosedinclined or contoured surface over which the ball is putted. Since theusual game area is relatively small, as compared to the average puttinggreen, the sharply inclined and contoured surfaces are not a truesimulation of the usual slopes found on greens. Such games become gamesof chance rather than of skill. In addition, if the ball does not clearthe upwardly inclined area it may roll back onto the putting area. Thus,the player gains another turn thereby increasing the time consumed inplaying the game with consequent decrease in the revenue produced by thedevice. Other games of this type provide a relatively flat puttingsurface but do not have a protectively covered or enclosed playingsurface, thereby allowing dirt and dust, as well as foreign objects, tobe deposited on the putting surface, not to mention the interference byspectators as the ball is putted toward the hole.

The present practice for this type of game also provides gravity ballreturn wherein the ball after completing its putting cycle is returnedby gravity alone after it has passed through the hole or into theopening provided beyond the hole. Ball returns of this type areinherently slow and uncertain as the ball must roll the entire length ofthe game mechanism into the putting area, and they are also somewhatimpositive in operation since the vertical drop along the gradualincline on which the ball must roll under the force of gravity is smallwhen compared to the length of the game mechanism. This latter factoroften causes the movement of the ball to be obstructed by small objectsor worn areas in its path of movement.

Accordingly, an important object of this invention is to provide a golfgame having a flat horizontal surface with an enclosed portion whichincludes the hole, the overrun opening, and the playing surface thusblocking external access to the fiat horizontal putting surface exceptfrom the putting area at one end of the playing surface and at the sametime providing an unobstructed view of the course of the putted ball.

Another object of this invention is to provide an indoor coin operatedgolf game having a mechanically operated ball return mechanism forautomatically providing the player with a predetermined number of balls,and specifically an automatic return mechanism which furnishes a numberof balls to the player one at a time and not until the previously puttedball has dropped through the hole in the playing surface or into theoverrun opening provided beyond the hole or pushed by the sweeper baroff the putting surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a golf game having alevel substantially enclosed playing surface including a mechanismresponsive to a manually actuated switch for sweeping dead balls whichcome to rest on the enclosed horizontal and level playing surface off ofthe putting surface into an overrun opening provided at the end of theplaying surface opposite the putting area.

3,184,239 Patented May 18, 1965 "ice Another object of the invention isto provide a simple coin operated golf game or the like whichautomatically supplies a plurality of golf balls to the player one at atime and then scores the number of holes made, and particularly to agolf game having all of the aforesaid structural features which has aminimum number of moving parts and is consequently less susceptible tobreakdown and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled game embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partially broken away, of the game shown in FIG.1 and illustrating in broken lines some of the components of the game;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view essentially along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view essentially along the line 44 ofFIG. 2 illustrating the ball feed mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one end of the playing surface showing theplaying surface partially removed;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the terminal portion of the ball feed mechanismwherein the ball leaves the feed chain;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the apparatusshown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view essentially along the line 88 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a perspective showing of a ball pusher which actuates theswitches of the control system; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of the electrical control system.

Referring to the drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated, FIG. 1 shows the outer configuration of thegame including an elongated base member 10 having upwardly extendingside members 11 and 12 on either side thereof which support thetransparent cover 15 above the major portion of the fiat horizontalplaying surface 16. An uncovered putting area or surface 18 is providedimmediately adjacent the right end of the playing surface 16 (as viewedin FIG. 1) for accommodating the player. The putting area 18 is coplanarwith the playing surface 16 and both are covered with a suitablematerial 21 to simulate the surface of a golf course putting green, forexample, a long-stranded or cut pile carpet. The object of the game isfor a player to stand on the base til in the putting area 18 and puttthe ball 22 by using the putter 24 along the playing surface and intothe hole 25. For the purpose, a predetermined number of balls 22 areautomatically supplied one at a time from the ball outlet 28 along theball guide 36 and onto the putting surface 18 after the game has beenstarted by inserting a coin into the conventional coin acceptor or box32. The preferred embodiment of the invention supplies nine regulationgolf balls each time a coin is inserted into the box 32, and while thegame will be explained as supplying this particular number of balls pergame, it is within the scope of the invention to supply any number ofballs for each coin, as will be described.

The hole 25 is spaced in the playing surface 16 mid- Way between theside wall members 11 and 12 near the end of the playing surface 16opposite the putting area 18, and ran overrun opening 35 extends acrossthe entire width of the playing surface 16, between the end wall 36 andthe surface 16 for receiving balls which do not roll into the hole 25.An illuminated score box 37 is positioned above the playing surface 16and supported by the side members 11 and 12 and encloses suitableapparatus for visually indicating the number of holes made by theplayer, preferably nine decorated light bulbs 38.- It may be desirableto provide a lamp 39 or the like mounted on the score box 37 toilluminate the playing area around the areaof the hole 25 while the gameis in play;

An important feature ofsthe invention resides in'the transparentprotective cover 15, preferably a clear plastic material, whichenclosesmost of the playing surface 16 and abuts with the score box 37 so thatno access can be gained to the playing surface 16 in the area of thehole 25 j and the opening 35, thus preventing a player or spectator fromretrieving a dead ball which has come to rest on the playing surface 16under the transparent cover and hurt by the moving sweeper bar. V

A sweeper bar 40 (FIGS. l- 3) extends between the side members'll and 12across the entire width of the playing preventing spectator-s frominterfering with or becoming surface 16 for the purpose of clearing theplaying surfaceof dead balls which are putted beneath the transparent,

cover 15 and'do not fall through the hole or the overrun opening 35, andconsequently are inaccessibly positioned beneath the transparentcover15. As seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sweeper bar 40 is supported onand guided and supported by the guide block 88 secured to the outer wall52 of the game.

' As, shown best in FIG..8, a plurality of flag-shaped ball 'pushers 90are secured to the chain 85 and extend into the channel 75 (see FIG. '8)for moving the balls along the channel toward the outlet 28. 1 When apusher '90 and its ball reach the end of the channel'75, the ball rol'lsint-o 1 the outlet. channel 91 (see FIGS, 6 and 7) through theballI-outlet 28 along the guide 30 .and' onto the putting area 18. Anopening 92 is proyided in the outlet channel 91 to allow the pushers'9.0 tolpass, therethrough as the feed chain 85 moves around the sprocket82.-

Theelect-rical control system, shown in FIG.-10, is

j described in connection with the operation of the game and'includes' acoin actuated relay 100 havingits coil 101 connected by the conductorsi103 and 104 to the power moved by the two endless chains 42 mounted ineach of a the side members 11 and 12,'on the sprockets 44 and 45 securedto the shafts 47 and 48 which extend betweenthe members 11 and 12,'andare journalled in the bearing boxes 51 mounted on the outside walls 52and 53. i

The elongated strips 55, see 'FIGS. 3 and 8, are suitably secured by thewood strip 56to the side walls 52 and53 for covering the central portionof the aperture .59! cutin':

each of the'inner' side walls 571and 58 to allow proper mounting andunobstructed movement of the sweeper bar 4-0. Movement ofthesweeper'bar- 40 is actuated by the manual switch 60 located on the base10 which effects energization of the drive motor SM (FIGS. 2gand 3)drivingly connected to the shaft 47 via the chains 61, the sprocket 62,the chainv 63, and the sprocket 64 on shaft input lines 105 and 106,respectively. The conductor 104 has a normally open switch 108 thereinwhich is closed when a coin is inserted into the coin box 32,,shown inFIG. 1,. and the coin actuated relay 100' will close the normally openswitches 110 and- 111 when the coil 101 is energized by closing of theswitch 108'toinitiate operation or the game. f

The control relay 115 is quite similar to the coin'actuated relay 100and includesthe coil 116' connected to the power line 106 by theconductor 118 which has :a normally closed switch 119 therein opened bytheprojection 90a 47 for rotating the sprockets 44 and thus movingchains 42 and the sweeper bar 40. Each time the button 60 is actuatedthe sweeper bar moves through onecomplete cycle, from the position shownin-FIG. 3 around the V sprocket 44 and along the entire length oftheplaying surface 16 to push any dead balls thereon into the hole 25 orthe overrun opening 35 and then around sprocket and back to the positionshown in FIG. 3, wherein energization of the sweeper bar motor 62-isautomatically terminated, as will be described. 7

When one of the balls 22 passes through the hole 25 or the overrunopening 35, itfalls onto the slanted'table 65 which tapers downwardlytoward the. opening '66 at one corner thereof, as shown best in FIGS. 3and 5. The Y boundarywalls' 67 and 68 are provided on the lower twosides of the table 65 to insure that the balls will roll toward andthrough the opening 66. A switch 71 is a'ctuated. as the ball fallsthrough the hole for the purposes of scoring, as will be described. Thepartitions 73 are provided for protecting the scoring switch 71 fromactuation by balls which pass through the opening 35 to insure that!only putted balls passing through the hole 25 will actuate the switch71.

From thelopening 66. the ballsdrop onto the U-shapedball channel 75(FIG. 8) of the ball feed mechanism de', fined by the'angle iron 76 andthe upper chain guide 78 which is secured to the. outer. side wall 52. Asuitable electrical switch 80 mounted on the bottom of the playingsurface 16' is actuated each' time. a ball p'ass es into'thechannel 75from the opening 66 foractuatingthe'b'all feed. mechanism, as will bedescribed." The ball chann el i 75 extendsaalong'one side of thegamemechanism from a pointrearwardly of the opening 66' (seeFlG. 5) to aposition above the chainsprocketS Z,and-ispositioned, paral lel to thefeed chain .85 which is mounted on the sprockets 82 and 86 and driven-,by the'motor PM hich suitably "rotatesjthe' shaft 87, whichhas the=sprocket86rigidly secured thereto. The top run of the; feed" chainjSSis.

tionof the game.

on the ninth or last ball pusher 90' to terminate operation of the game(see FIGS. 4 and 9) The relay actuates the normally open switches 120.and 121 which are closed by energi'zation of the coil 116 which occurswhen the normally open switch 108 is momentarily actuated by inserting acoin into the coin box "32 to cause the coil 101 .to close the switch110, thus completing a circuit to the 'coil 116 through theconductors122 and 123, the switch 110, and the conductors124 and 125.

Since the coin operated switch remains closed only "momentarily, thecontrol relay 1 15 has a self-locking circuitfor maintainingenergization of thecoil 1151until the normally closed switch '120 isopened to terminate opera- 7 tion of the game. That is, once the controlcoil 116. is energized a holding circuit is completed thereto through 7the conductors 122 and 128, the switch .120, and the conductors 129 and124-,and the'control coil 116 will remain g energized untilsuch time asthe normally closed switch T119, is opened, to-wit, when projection90a.on the last ball pusher 90 actuates the switch 119 to terminate opera- Aball feed relay1130 is provided for controlling energization of themotor PM Which rotates. the feed chain 85 to supplyapredeterminednumberof balls, one at a time, through the outlet'28 to the putting surface18.

This relay includes a coil 132 connected 'to the power line 106 by theconductor 134 which has normally closed switch 135 therein opened eachtime a ball passes through 'the opening 28 and into the track 30. Thenormally open switches 137 and-138 are closed by energization of thecoil 132 which occurs when the-coin is inserted in the coin box 3-2 tosupply the first ball to the putting surface 18, and eaclrtime theswitch 137 is closed a circuit is completed to the mo tor through theconductor 139, the switch 137, and the conductors 141 and 142 to effectmovement of the feed chain 85 tosupply one, ball through the outlet 28.,

Injdetail, when the-switch 111 is closed by the coil101- 'a circui-t iscompleted to one side of the feed relay through the conductor 143, theswitch. 712 1 which has been closedby the control coil 115,the-conductors 144,

"145, and'146, theswitch 111, and the conductors-147 and 148. V Thiscircuit is only momentarily closed since the switch .108 of :the coinactuated relay 100-is closed only for *amoment. However, the feed relay13.0 is provided, 7 "with a looking or holding:circ11it ,which maintainsthe energization' of the coil' 132' o-ncejithas been energized.

Thus: when the 011132 closes the switch 138,a circuit is completed tothis coil through the conductor 143, the switch 121, the conductors 144,145, and 151, the switch 133, and the conductors 152 and 148.

The coil 13 2 remains energized until the normally closed switch 135 isactuated, which occurs when the chain 85 has advanced its ball pushers90 to supply a ball to the putting area 18 and to move another pusherinto position in the channel 75 so that when a ball moves into theopening 66 it will be engaged by this pusher. The switch 135 ismomentarily opened each time a ball pusher 90 passes over the switch135, as shown in FIG, 4. When the switch 135 is open, the circuit to thecoil is broken and the switch 138 is opened so that the locking orholding circuit for the feed relay 139 is also broken thus terminatingenergization of the motor FM. The feed relay 130 is also actuated eachtime the ball actuates switch 80, e.g., when a ball rolls through theopening 66 by completion of a circuit to the coil 132 via conductor 143,switch 121, conductor 1144, switch 81 and conductor 148 to again effectoperation of motor FM until the chain actuated switch 135 is againopened in the manner described above.

The sweeper bar control relay 160 includes the coil 161 connected on oneside to the power line 106 by the conductor 163 having the normallyclosed switch 164 therein which is opened momentarily when the sweeperchain completes one cycle. The coil 161 operates the normally openswitches 166 and 167, in a manner quite similar to the relay coils 101,116, and 132, and is energized by closing the manually actuated normallyopen switch 60 which completes a circuit to the coil 161 through theconductor 143, the switch 121 which is always closed during operation ofthe game, the conductors 144 and 167, the switch 60, and the conductor168. When the coil closes switch 166 a circuit to the sweeper motor SMis completed through conductors 163 and 171, switch 166, conductors 172and 173.

Since the switch 68 will only be closed momentarily, a holding circuitis also provided so that the circuit to the coil 161 will be maintainedfor movement of the sweeper bar 40 through one complete cycle. Thus,when the coil 161 is energized a holding circuit is completed inparallel with the switch 60, by the conductor 176, the switch 167, andthe conductor 177. When the sweeper bar 40 completes one cycle, thenormally closed switch 164 is momentarily opened by the projection 165on the chain 42 (see FIG. 3) so that the coil 161 is deenergized therebyopening the switches 166 and terminating operation of the motor SM andopening the holding or locking circuit of the relay 160.

The scoreboard includes the plurality of light bulbs B through B whichsequentially light up and remain lighted as the balls drop through thehole 25 and actuate the switch 71. The number of the light bulbs and theassociated rotor switches 18% is nine since this corresponds to thenumber of balls supplied to the player during each game and thus enablesappropriate indication of the number of holes made by the player.

The rotors 18th are actuated by the coil 182 which will advance each ofthe rotors one step, that is, between two of the contacts C -C each timeit is energized. A circuit to the coil 182 is completed from the powerline 106 through the conductor 184, the diode 185 which converts thealternating current to direct current, the coil or solenoid 182, theconductors 186 and 189, the ball actuated switch 71, the switch 191which is opened only during movement of the sweeper bar 48, theconductors 191 and 192, the switch 121 which is always closed during theoperation of the game, and the conductor 143 which is connected to thepower line 105.

The circuit to the coil 182 can also be completed through the normallyopen switch 195 which is closed when the switch rotors 180 are in any ofthe positions C through C the interrupter 196 which makes and breaks acircuit therethrough at a high speed when energized, and the chainactuated switch 197 actuated by the projection a on the ninth or lastball pusher 90 so that this switch will be actuated immediately prior tothe completion of each game.

The scoreboard electrical system is substantially in operative until aputted ball falls through the hole 25 to close momentarily the switch 71and actuate the coil 182 to advance each of the rotors one step from Cto C This completes a circuit to the light B through the conductors 184,the bulb E the rotor 180, conductors 187, 188, 192, switch 121, andconductor 143. Each time a putted ball falls through the hole 25 thecoil 182 is energized and the rotor 180 advanced one step to light anadditional bulb thus giving visual indication of the number of holesmade by the player. Thus when another ball falls through the hole 25,each of the rotors 180 will be advanced one position causing bulbs B andB to be lighted. The operation continues each time a ball is putted intothe hole 25, and a perfect game causes all the bulbs 131-139 to belighted and remain lighted.

After the last ball is played, the chain 85 advances and closes theswitch 197 to complete a circuit to the coil 182 through the interruptor196 and the switch 195. The interrupter 196 causes the coil 182 to beenergized and deenergized at a high rate of speed since it rapidly makesand breaks the circuit therethrough thus causing the rotors 180 to bemoved at a high speed until they reach the home or starting position Cwherein the switch 195 is opened and the circuit broken. Thus the rotors180 are returned automatically to their starting position for the nextgame. If no putted balls roll through hole 25 the rotors 180 would stillbe in their starting position and the switch 195 would remain open sothat no resetting is required.

The sweeper switch is provided in series with the ball actuated switch71 so that during actuation of the sweeper bar 40 a circuit cannot becompleted to the coil thus prohibiting actuation thereof should thesweeper bar push a ball into the hole instead of the ball return opening35 at the end of the playing surface.

It should be evident that the entire system including the scoreboard andeach of the relays 100, 130, and 160 are deencrgized when the controlrelay 115 is deenergized thereby shutting down the system each time thenormally closed switch 119 is opened at the completion of each game. Thesystem is completely inoperative until such time as the coin actuatorrelay is again energized in the manner described above. Although theswitches 119 and 197 are both actuated by the projection 90a or numbernine ball pusher, the switch 197 is actuated slightly ahead of theswitch 119 so that the scoreboard mechanism is reset prior to the timethe power is cut off thereto.

To summarize the operation of the game, a coin is inserted in the coinbox 32 to commence operation of the game mechanism by immediatelysupplying a ball to the putting surface 18 so that the player, at hisconvenience, can putt the ball toward the hole 25. If a putted ballfalls through the hole 25 it actuates the switch 71 thus lighting thebulb B to give visual indication that a hole has been made. If the balldoes not reach either the hole 25 or the opening 35 it is cleared fromthe playing surface beneath the cover 16 by actuating the switch 60which causes the sweeper bar 41) to move through one complete cycle thuspushing the ball into the hole 25 or the opening 35. As mentioned, thescoreboard circuit is open during operation of the sweeper bar 40 sothat if the sweeper bar pushes a ball through the hole 25 it will not beregistered on the scoreboard.

When the ball passes through either the hole 25 or the opening 35 itfalls onto the table 65 and rolls through the opening 66 onto thechannel 75 thus actuating the switch 80. This causes the feed chain 85to be advanced to supply another ball to the putting surface which isputted toward the hole. If this ball passes through the hole 25 the nextbulb B is lighted so that two bulbs are now lighted to give indicationthat the player has made two holes. This operation continues until theplayer has been supplied and putted nine balls after which the chain 85will have completed one complete revolution so that the projectionhilaon the last ball pusher will actuate the switches 197 and 119 to resetthescoreboard" and terminate operation ofthegame in the manner describedabove; 1

Thus it is seen that a completely automatic coin op- 10 erated indoorgolf putting game has been provided which prohibits access to theplaying surface soz that external interference cannot be gained to aballafter it has been putted, dead balls cannot be retrieved, theplaying surbar to prevent the scoring of a ball which. is'droppedthrough: the hole by the sweeper bar 40. The playing surface issubstantially flat to simulate the conditions found on an actual golfgreen, and the positive ball feed mechanism supplies a predeterminednumber of balls to the putting surface, one at a time and not untilafter the player has putted the previous ball. The feed mechanism alsoefiects the. resetting of the scoreboard and automatically terminatesoperation of the game after the last ball has been putted.

While the formofapparatus herein described con-' stitutes, a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionisnot limited to this precise formof apparatus, and that changes may bemade or said hole, said bar means being movable to a retracted positionwherein the ball may pass unrestricted thereunder, guide table'means forreceiving balls from said openingrand said .hole, a feedlchannelextending from said guide table to near said putting surface, said guidetable being slanted to facilitate movement of the ballstowardsaidchann'el, a channel opening'interc onnecting said table meansand said channel for passage of balls from said table means into saidchannel, a chain means disposed adjacentsaid channel having a pluralityof ball pushers mounted thereon for moving the balls along said channelto said putting surface, feed control means efiect- 7 ing advancementof'said chainlmeans for supplying one ball tosaid putting surface, eachtime a ball rolls through said channel opening, and game control meansfor permitting saidchain means to advance a predetermined number oftimes each game.

3. An automatic golf putting game, comprising a substantiallyhorizontalenclosed playing surface, an opening extending across one endof said playing, surface for receiving balls, a hole for receivingballsfforrned centrally in said playinglsurface near said one end, aputting surface having access to said playing surface positionedadjacent the opposite end thereof and having sufiicient area I towardthe hole, a sweeper bar having its opposite ends secured to an endlesschain mounted so that said bar eX- tehds across said playing surface,automatic means for therein withoutudeparting from the scope of theinvenwall at one end thereof, an overrun opening extending V 7 acrosssaid one end-betweensaid playing surface and said end wall for receivingthe ball, a hole for receiving the one end, a putting surface positionedadjacent the opposite end of said playingsurface and having sufficientarea to permit the player to stand; thereon and putt the ball towardsaidhole, guide table means for receiving balls from said overrun openingand said hole, a feed channel extending fromsaid guide tab-leto nearsaid putting sur-' 7 face, said guide table means-being slanted formovement vof the balls toward said channel, an opening interconnect--'ball formed centrally in said playing surface near said moving saidchain through one complete cycle including the moving of said bar overthe entire area of said playing surface for pushing dead balls thereoninto said opemng and the positioning of said bar in a retracted positionwhereinballs will pass, unrestricted under said bar, guide, table meansfor receiving. balls from said opening and said hole, a feed channelhaving an inlet from said'guide table and an outlet 'to said puttingsurface, said guide table being slanted to facilitate movement of theballs into said channel inlet, a chain disposed adjacent said channelhaving a plurality of ball pushers mounted thereon for moving the ballsalong said channel toward said channel outlet, feed control meanseffecting advancement of said chainfor supplying one ball to saidputting surface eachtime a ball rolls through said inlet,

ing said table means and, said channel for passage of balls from saidtable 'means into said channehxa chain disposed adjacent said channelhaving a plurality of ball pushers mounted thereon for moving the ballsalongsaid channel towardsaid putting surface, feed control rneansefiecting advancement of said chain for supplying one game. 7

2. An automatic golf putting game, comprisinga substantially flathorizontal elongated playing surface havand game control means forpermitting the chain to addiscontinue-counting when said sweeper barmeans is in e ,said'sweeper bar means includes an endless chain means ineachof said side walls above the level of said playing surface andsubstantially coextensive in length with said cover,meansdefining-slotsrin each of saidside walls horing a side wall on eachside and an end wall atone end thereof, an opening extending across saidone end between 7 said playing surface and said end wall for receivingballs,

a hole for receiving the balfformed centrally in said playing surfacenear said one end, a transparentfcover mounted on said sidewalls andabutting said end" wall for enclosingthe' said playing surface except at:the opposite' end thereof, a putting surface coplanar withs'aidplayingsurface positioned adjacentsaid opposite end of; said playing'surface .andhaving sufficient area to permit the player to standthereon and putt a ball toward said 7 i izontally aligned opposite saidendless chain means, a bar having each end thereof extending through oneof said slots and secured'to one of said endless chain means fortmovement therewithalong said playing surface to sweep dead balls intosaid opening or said 'hole and for moveof said side wallsabove theleveljof said playing surface and-substantially coextensive in'lengthwith said cover,

saidendless chains having upper'and lower runs, means definingovalshaped'slots in reach of .said sidewalls llori zontallyaligned opposite,said .chains, a bar having each end thereof extending through one ofsaid slots andsecured to one; of said: chains for movement therewiththrough said lower runaiongi said playing sugfaceto sweep deadballs intosaid opening orsaidhole and ,for movement therewith to said upper runand a retracted position, and motor means for simultaneously moving saidendless chains.

7. An automatic golf putting game, comprising an elongated playingsurface having an end wall at one end thereof, an overrun openingextending across said one end between said playing surface and said endwall for receiving a ball, a hole for also receiving a ball formedcentrally in said playing surface near said one end, a putting surfacepositioned adjacent the opposite end of said playing surface and havingsuflicient area to permit the player to stand thereon and putt the balltoward said hole, guide table means for receiving balls from saidoverrun opening and said hole, said guide table means being slantedtoward an outlet at the lowest point thereof to facilitate movement ofthe balls toward said outlet, a feed channel extending from below saidoutlet in said guide table means to near said putting surface, anendless chain means having a plurality of ball pushers associated withsaid channel for moving the balls along said channel toward said puttingsurface, feed control means effecting advancement of said ball pushersfor supplying one ball to said putting surface each time a ball dropsthrough said hole or said overrun opening and rolls into said channel,and game control means responsive to movement of said ball pushers forpermitting said ball pushers to advance a predetermined number of timeseach game.

8. An automatic golf putting game, comprising an elongated playingsurface having an end wall at one end thereof, an overrun openingextending across said one end between said playing surface and said endwall for receiving a ball, a hole for also receiving a ball formedcentrally in said playing surface near said one end, a flat puttingsurface adjacent the opposite end of said playing surface and havingsufficient area to permit the player to stand thereon and putt the balltoward said hole, guide table means for receiving balls from saidoverrun opening and said hole, said guide table means being slantedtoward an outlet in the lowest portion thereof to facilitate movement ofthe ball toward said outlet, a feed channel extending upwardly frombelow said outlet to a position above and adjacent said putting surface,a chain disposed adjacent said channel having a plurality of ballpushers mounted thereon for moving the balls along said channel towardsaid putting surface, a downwardly sloped guide track for receiving theball from the end of said channel adjacent said putting surface andguiding movement thereof onto said putting surface, feed control meanseffecting advancement of said chain for supplying one ball to saidputting surface each time a ball rolls into said channel, and gamecontrol means for limiting the number of times said chain advances ineach game.

References (Zited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,011,146 Evans Aug. 13, 1935 2,212,333 Wade Aug. 20, 1940 2,259,916Wheeler et al Oct. 21, 1941 2,578,319 Schmidt Dec. 11, 1951 2,585,153Metz Feb. 12, 1952 2,609,199 Koener Sept. 2, 1952 3,011,791 Page Dec. 5,1961 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

1. AN AUTOMATIC GOLF PUTTING GAME, COMPRISING A PLAYING SURFACE HAVING ASIDE WALL ON EACH SIDE AND AN END WALL AT ONE END THEREOF, AN OVERRUNOPENING EXTENDING ACROSS SAID ONE END BETWEEN SAID PLAYING SURFACE ANDSAID END WALL FOR RECEIVING THE BALL, A HOLE FOR RECEIVING THE BALLFORMED CENTRALLY IN SAID PLAYING SURFACE NEAR SAID ONE END, A PUTTINGSURFACE POSITIONED ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID PLAYING SURFACE ANDHAVING SUFFICIENT AREA TO PERMIT THE PLAYER TO STAND THEREON AND PUTTTHE BALL TOWARDS SAID HOLE, GUIDE TABLE MEANS FOR RECEIVING BALLS FROMSAID OVERRUN OPENING AND SAID HOLE, A FEED CHANNEL EXTENDING FROM SAIDGUIDE TABLE TO NEAR SAID PUTTING SURFACE, SAID GUIDE TABLE MEANS BEINGSLANTED FOR MOVEMENT OF THE BALLS TOWARD SAID CHANNEL, AN OPENINGINTERCONNECTING SAID TABLE MEANS AND SAID CHANNEL FOR PASSAGE OF BALLSFROM SAID TABLE MEANS INTO SAID CHANNEL, A CHAIN DISPOSED ADJACENT SAIDCHANNEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF BALL PUSHERS MOUNTED THEREON FOR MOVINGTHE BALLS ALONG SAID CHANNEL TOWARD SAID PUTTING SURFACE, FEED CONTROLMEANS EFFECTING ADVANCEMENT OF SAID CHAIN FOR SUPPLYING ONE BALL TO SAIDPUTTING SURFACE EACH TIME A BALL ROLLS INTO SAID CHANNEL, AND GAMECONTROL MEANS FOR PERMITTING THE CHAIN TO ADVANCE A PREDETERMINED NUMBEROF TIMES EACH GAME.